Shading effects of alley cropped Leucaena leucocephala on weed biomass and maize yield at Mtwapa, Coast Province, Kenya

Jama, Bashir; Getahun, Amare; Ngugi, D. N.

doi:10.1007/bf00129615

Cited by 26 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…This reduction is probably due to the complementary processes of: (1) mulch from hedgerow prunings providing a ground cover (Yamoah et al, 1986a;Kang, 1993); (2) hedgerows shading the alleys (Yamoah et al, 1986a;Jama et al, 1991) and competing with weeds for other growth resources (Rippin et al, 1994); and (3) potential allelopathy from hedgerow species (Obondo, 1987;Weston, 1996).…”

Section: Weed Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The potential for HI to control weeds is high in humid and subhumid environments where the climatic conditions favor weed growth (Kang, 1993;Rippin et al, 1994), and when prunings are used as mulch. Another significant process that occurs in HI -as a result of hedgerow shading and mulch -is a shift over time in the composition of weed species from difficult-to-control grasses and sedges to easily controllable broad-leaved weeds (Jama et al, 1991;Siaw et al, 1991). It is likely that, over years, HI might reduce the weed seed-bank in the soil, especially if the prunings are used as mulch, which would smother weeds, prevent further addition of weed seeds, and reduce seed viability by preventing germination.…”

Section: Weed Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Allowing hedgerows to grow between cropping seasons will increase their potential to shade and smother weeds in the alleys. Three months of uninterrupted growth of leucaena hedgerows, between the two cropping seasons, reduced weed growth by 93% at the subhumid coast of Kenya (Jama et al, 1991). However, long growth periods could lead to the potential danger of the tree species becoming a 'weed,' especially in the case of profusely seeding species such as leucaena and flemingia.…”

Section: Weed Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, long growth periods could lead to the potential danger of the tree species becoming a 'weed,' especially in the case of profusely seeding species such as leucaena and flemingia. The closer the hedgerows are spaced, the greater would be the potential for weed control (Jama et al, 1991), but close spacing also means loss of space for crops and greater competition of hedgerows with crops. Therefore, when determining the optimum spacing of hedgerows, the primary objective should be the improvement of crop yields.…”

Section: Weed Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biophysical interactions in tropical agroforestry systems

Rao¹,

Nair²,

Ong³

1998

Forestry Sciences

111

124

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Abstract. The rate and extent to which biophysical resources are captured and utilized by the components of an agroforestry system are determined by the nature and intensity of interactions between the components. The net effect of these interactions is often determined by the influence of the tree component on the other component(s) and/or on the overall system, and is expressed in terms of such quantifiable responses as soil fertility changes, microclimate modification, resource (water, nutrients, and light) availability and utilization, pest and disease incidence, and allelopathy. The paper reviews such manifestations of biophysical interactions in major simultaneous (e.g., hedgerow intercropping and trees on croplands) and sequential (e.g., planted tree fallows) agroforestry systems.In hedgerow intercropping (HI), the hedge/crop interactions are dominated by soil fertility improvement and competition for growth resources. Higher crop yields in HI than in sole cropping are noted mostly in inherently fertile soils in humid and subhumid tropics, and are caused by large fertility improvement relative to the effects of competition. But, yield increases are rare in semiarid tropics and infertile acid soils because fertility improvement does not offset the large competitive effect of hedgerows with crops for water and/or nutrients. Whereas improved soil fertility and microclimate positively influence crop yields underneath the canopies of scattered trees in semiarid climates, intense shading caused by large, evergreen trees negatively affects the yields. Trees in boundary plantings compete with crops for above-and belowground resources, with belowground competition of trees often extending beyond their crown areas. The major biophysical interactions in improved planted fallows are improvement of soil nitrogen status and reduction of weeds in the fallow phase, and increased crop yields in the subsequent cropping phase. In such systems, the negative effects of competition and microclimate modification are avoided in the absence of direct tree-crop interactions.Future research on biophysical interactions should concentrate on (1) exploiting the diversity that exists within and between species of trees, (2) determining interactions between systems at different spatial (farm and landscape) and temporal scales, (3) improving understanding of belowground interactions, (4) assessing the environmental implications of agroforestry, particularly in the humid tropics, and (5) devising management schedules for agroforestry components in order to maximize benefits.

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Section: Weed Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Weed Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Weed Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Weed Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Biophysical interactions in tropical agroforestry systems

Rao¹,

Nair²,

Ong³

1998

Forestry Sciences

111

124

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For example, agroforestry‐based systems such as alley cropping and herbaceous cover crops have been proposed for weed management in intensified farming systems as alternatives to shifting cultivation ( Szott et al ., 1991 ; Akobundu et al ., 1992 ; Rippin et al ., 1994 ). Jama et al . (1991 ) showed that alley cropping with Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of fallow management systems and frequency of cropping on weed growth and crop yield

1999

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The influence of weeds on maize intercropped with cassava was evaluated in three fallow management systems and four cropping frequencies from 1989 to 1996 in Ibadan, Nigeria, West Africa. Fallow management systems consisted of natural bush, Leucaena leucocephala hedgerows and Pueraria phaseoloides fallow. Frequencies of cropping were continuous cropping, 1 cropping year alternating with 1, 2 and 3 years of uncropped fallow. Shrubs and climbers contributed 60–70% and herbs (predominantly weeds) 30–40% to the total dry matter produced in all treatments. Weed dry matter and seedbank increased with time in all treatments but was higher in natural bush fallow by the fifth and sixth years and in continuously cropped plots. Weed seed density increased with time in the continuously cropped plots and in plots cropped after 1 or 2 years of fallow but decreased with time when the fallow period was up to 3 years. Maize grain yield decreased over time in both unweeded and weeded plots irrespective of treatment with the exception of the weeded P. phaseoloides fallow treatment. Cassava tuber yield decreased over time in unweeded plots in all treatments while tuber yield increased in weeded P. phaseoloides fallow treatment and remained relatively constant in L. leucocephala and natural bush fallow plots. The results from this study suggest that planted fallow involving legume species is more effective in weed management in the long term than natural fallow. Fallow period was beneficial to crop yield and yield improvement increased with the length of the fallow cycle, particularly for cassava.

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Mucuna pruriens, Crotalaria juncea, and chickpea (Cicer arietinum) have the potential for improving productivity of banana‐based systems in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Blomme¹,

Ntamwira²,

Ocimati³

2022

Legume Science

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Intercropping banana and shorter annual crops in small holder systems is inevitable despite shade being a limitation. Current production is also limited to the wet seasons. Strategies to exploit the spaces under banana shade and drier seasons are crucial for optimal production of these systems. We determined the performance of two legume cover crops, Mucuna pruriens and Crotalaria juncea, and chickpea (Cicer arietinum), a grain legume, under different banana shade levels and over the wet and dry seasons in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Banana and legume monocrops served as controls. Shade reduced weed biomass and legume root nodulation, biomass, and grain yields. Chickpea root nodulation had a lower sensitivity to shade (3-9% reduction) compared with mucuna (30-60%) and crotalaria (31-71%).Legume biomass yield declines varied from 37-83%, 56-93%, and 80-98% for mucuna, crotalaria, and chickpea, respectively. Higher nodulation occurred in the rainy compared with the dry season. Biomass yield declines, albeit low occurred in the dry season for mucuna (15%) and crotalaria (30%). In contrast, chickpea biomass and grain yields increased by 394% and 4487%, respectively, in the dry season. A higher banana vegetative growth occurred in the intercropped plots. Land equivalent ratios of 1.15-1.34 under dense shading for mucuna and crotalaria and 1.10-1.62 for chickpea occurred irrespective of the seasons. These findings suggest that these cover crops and chickpea could be exploited to enhance biomass (for fodder, mulch, or manure) and grain yields under banana shade and over the drier seasons.

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Shading effects of alley cropped Leucaena leucocephala on weed biomass and maize yield at Mtwapa, Coast Province, Kenya

Cited by 26 publications

References 7 publications

Biophysical interactions in tropical agroforestry systems

Biophysical interactions in tropical agroforestry systems

Influence of fallow management systems and frequency of cropping on weed growth and crop yield

Mucuna pruriens, Crotalaria juncea, and chickpea (Cicer arietinum) have the potential for improving productivity of banana‐based systems in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

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